> What's the purpose of founding this kind of spying program? Do they expect to find Al'Quaida' sbire among the average joe?
I would suggest to finally drop the premise implied in these kinds of questions / indignation / etc.: that there's an actual purpose/principle (related in some or other way to the greater good and so on) which these systems are founded upon. I really think that there is no such thing. As cliche as it sounds, I believe it's simply about power (and power breeding more power, and all that.) This is the kind of framework which in some sense is at least meaningful and fruitful for discussion. Any moral ground on their side is a mere facade/veil/pretext (including for some level of self-deception/rationalization, sure), but its existence and use is purely instrumental.
I would suggest to finally drop the premise implied in these kinds of questions / indignation / etc.: that there's an actual purpose/principle (related in some or other way to the greater good and so on) which these systems are founded upon. I really think that there is no such thing. As cliche as it sounds, I believe it's simply about power (and power breeding more power, and all that.) This is the kind of framework which in some sense is at least meaningful and fruitful for discussion. Any moral ground on their side is a mere facade/veil/pretext (including for some level of self-deception/rationalization, sure), but its existence and use is purely instrumental.